Written by Rona Wheeldon
November 09, 2016
Looking for festive inspiration? Then look no further! We've rounded up an amazing array of just some of the very best flowers, foliage, plants and sundries for Christmas 2016... all under one roof, at New Covent Garden Flower Market.
For starters, how stunning is this popular asparagus fern at Porters Foliage, which is available in lots of different colourways, including silver, copper and gold?
Grab a cuppa, settle down and have a browse through this bumper Christmas Special Report...
Flowers
Perfect for contract designs and flower arrangements at home is amaryllis. And you'll find boxes upon boxes at Nine Elms in a wide range of colours. There's 'Mont Blanc'...
'Ambiance'
'Naranja'
'Ferrari'
...and 'Liberty'.
There's also the quintessential festive must-have... Ilex. You'll find Ilex 'Verticillata' in different stem lengths...
...Ilex verticillata 'Winter Gold', with its beautiful apricot berries...
...and Ilex 'Citronella'.
Plus, have you seen the gold and silver painted Ilex at Zest Flowers? You can get it dyed in red, cerise and purple too!
Red and white are such traditional yuletide colours. For a seasonal white hand-tied, how about these 'Royal Virgin' tulips?
Or if you're looking to add a wonderful scent to designs, there's homegrown Paper White Narcissi.
Back to tulips and for something more vibrantly coloured, how about these gorgeous 'Red Princess' tulips at S Robert Allen?
And there are, of course, lots of red roses. But have you seen this new variety called 'Red Eagle', which has a bright red, almost scarlet tone? It's available at DG Wholesale Flowers, where they also have a wonderful selection of Italian anemones, as featured recently on their Instagram account.
By the way, another red rose, this time with scent, is 'Lady Killer' and you'll find it at Dennis Edwards Flowers.
Plants
If you're looking for plants to add a touch of crimson to window boxes or containers, there's Gaultheria procumbens 'Charming Garden' at Evergreen...
...where they also have Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana, with its shiny berries.
Ideal to pot up and decorate for gifts for your customers to buy are amaryllis bulbs.
Or another present idea are these beautiful white cyclamen plants at Arnott & Mason.
Poinsettia will also be starting to appear at the plant wholesalers in not only different sizes, but also various colours too.
Fresh Foliage
You really can't beat the wonderful fragrance of bunches of fresh pine outside on Foliage Row. You'll find several types including blue spruce...
...and Scots pine.
Plus, you'll also find cupressus.
And there's traditional real holly with berries.
Look out for skimmia too, in both green and red.
And making its annual appearance at GB Foliage is their wonderful Christmas hanging installation.
Painted/Sprayed Foliage
Glitter birch twigs in just about every colour and sparkle imaginable are available. From silver, gold, rose gold and platinum to white, magenta, red, pale blue, orange, and black!
If you're looking for something smaller, head inside, where you'll find short painted birch.
Have you seen these jewelled twigs before? They're at Porters Foliage and come in two different lengths.
They also have leather leaf in silver, gold and copper.
Or for something more delicate, how about this coral fern in copper or silver?
Outside on Foliage Row, you'll also find grevillea...
...and magnolia.
Christmas Trees
Real Christmas trees, ranging in height from 3ft-20ft, can be ordered and are starting to come in at several traders at the Market.
Quality Plants have a great selection of festive paraphernalia on their stand opposite their plants. They include these wooden trees...
...and check out their Instagram account for more products, which they're currently stocking.
How lovely are these mini rustic Christmas trees at Porters Foliage?
And causing quite a stir are these bronze and platinum wooden Christmas trees at Zest Flowers!
The Flower Store, part of Bloomfield who are also on Instagram, have these white ceramic trees (and Santas too).
Christmas Tree Decorations
At C Best, towering above you as you walk down their aisles, are cylinders of large baubles in lots of different colours...
For a Scandi themed Christmas tree, how about these white metal trees?
Or there are white wooden reindeer and stars.
On the other hand, if you're looking for something a little fruity, there are golden glitter apples...
...and sparkling green pears.
Wreaths
Blue pine wreaths, in an assortment of different diameters, are starting to come in.
Or if you're going to make yours from scratch, head to one of the sundry suppliers for flat wire wreath rings.
There are also lots of different styles of artificial wreaths at the Market. For example, these designs at The Flower Store...
...at Zest Flowers...
...at Porters Foliage...
...and several designs at Pratley, including this one featured on their Instagram feed.
Assorted Decorations
The air is heady with the scent of dried fruits, cinnamon and star anise. And you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to decorations for adorning your Christmas designs.
You'll find whole oranges, orange slices and apple slices...
...waxed and frosted fruit...
...and cinnamon sticks in varying lengths.
Natural cones are in plentiful supply. Have you seen this oversized cone, which Porters Foliage featured on their Instagram account?
You'll also find bags of silver, gold, copper and champagne cones.
Pepperberry, in various hues including gold, silver, copper, black, purple, orange and pink (natural) can be found in abundance.
Artificial Flowers, Foliage & Berries
If you're looking for artificial flowers, dusted with snow, head to C Best, where they have these glitter Japanese hydrangea sprays...
...and large white roses.
There are also garlands aplenty, include this one featuring golden magnolia leaves.
Or if you're looking to add a touch of sparkle to a design, how about this silver glitter eucalyptus spray?
Have you seen these before? Coin branches in silver and gold!
Or these pretty maple fruit sprays?
And if you're on the search for something to create impact, check out this bright red flocked brushwood bush.
Staying with flocked products, there are also these rose hip sprays.
Back at Zest Flowers meanwhile, you'll find glossy and frosty rose hips.
Christmas Decorations for Bouquets & Arrangements
Pine cones on sticks, perfect for bouquets, can be found in a kaleidoscope of different colours including white glitter, red glitter, rose gold and platinum.
If you're looking to add fragrance to a bouquet, how about these cinnamon scented pine cones on sticks?
Sparkly poppy seed heads are available in silver and other colours, as you can see on Zest Flowers' Instagram account.
Popular also for festive designs are lotus heads, sprayed in different metallic hues.
Animals & Snowmen
Animals are 'all the rage' again this year! There are polar bears at Quality Plants...
...diamante studded polar bears and reindeer at Zest Flowers...
...plus glam penguins!
You'll also find a herd of reindeer at the Market!
Rustic, with a touch of sparkle, penguins can be found at J H Hart Flowers.
And Quality Plants have these cute little rustic, white reindeer.
Lighting
Lights in just about every type and length imaginable can be found at C Best...
...together with a wide selection of candles.
Accessories
Looking for containers for your plants or bulbs? Then check out the great selection at Quality Plants.
And of course, Oasis spray in every colour you would ever need can be found at Whittingtons!
That's where you'll also find red raffia. You'll find the natural type too at Porters Foliage.
Last, but not least, let's not forget ribbons! They're in abundance at C Best.
Plus check out these lovely wide ribbons at The Flower Store!
So, I hope this special report has given you lots of inspiration for your Christmas 2016 designs! Please do ask away below if you have any questions or would like to make any general comments. As always, we'd love to hear from you...
P.S. Don't forget that New Covent Garden Flower Market is on Instagram too!
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